Plan to Build Big Apartment House in Jamaica Plain

The Jamaica Plain Cooperative Association, a real estate organization, composed of several of the leading business and professional men of that section of the city, has just approved the plans for a handsome, new, 80-apartment house, which is to be erected on Center St., opposite Seaverns Ave., Jamaica Plain.

Building operations will begin very soon and it is expected that the building will be ready for tenants early in September next. The proposed building will be the largest, most pretentious and attractive structure of its kind in that section of the city. The suites will be en separate and will contain every modern convenience. The owners have planned for a first-class building in every particular. Everything is to be done to attract a desirable class of tenants.

It is expected that such a building, within 20 minutes of the business center of the city will prove a magnet to those who desire to live within a few minutes ride of their business and at the same time wish to enjoy a suburban life. This section of the city is within easy walking distance of the park system of the city and the famous Arnold Arboretum.

The projectors were induced to embark in the scheme by the demand for moderate priced suites within easy reach of the downtown section of Boston. The site is ideal, being accessible either by the L surface lines or the L itself. When the Green Street station of the L is ready in the spring, it will be within a three or four minutes’ walk, which brings one within 16 minutes of the shopping and business section of the city.

The suites as planned will contain five, six and seven rooms, and every room will have the advantage of sunshine and good air, for which this section of the city is noted. The success of the Robert Emmet Association building, which was constructed by the Hooper-Waters company of this city, and which is situated almost opposite the site of the new apartment building, was taken into consideration by the officers of the Cooperative Association in deciding to undertake the new enterprise.

Although not yet quite two years old, the association purchased the Williams estate in November, 1909, consisting of 20,000 feet of land, on which stood several buildings. The estate was assessed for $240,000. The adjoining Barnard estate, containing 14,000 square feet, was also purchased. The latter estate was secured last July. The association plans to develop all of the property. Plans for the building were drawn by Charles R Greco.

The association was formed at a meeting held in the Seaverns building, Jamaica Plain, in May, 1909. Francis J. Horgan, Hon Frank J. Seiberlich, Thomas F. Ward, Joseph B. Kavanagh, James Ryan and Thomas F. Busby were appointed a committee to draw up by-laws for the association. Later the following officers were elected: Francis J. Horgan as President, Frank J. Seiberlich as Vice-President, Joseph B. Kavanagh as Executive Secretary, Isaac F. Meyers as Financial Secretary, Edward G. Rowen as Treasurer, and the following board of directors: The President, Thomas F. Ward, Joseph A. Delaney, Thomas F. Busby, John Finnegan and George Helfrick; Trustees, John F. McDonald chairman, T. C. Haffenreffer and James H. Egan. At the annual meeting last May the same officers were chosen with the exception that John H. Ratigan was made Executive Secretary and Wallace W. Brown was chosen Financial Secretary.

This article originally appeared in the December 11, 1910 edition of the Boston Daily Globe. Production assistance provided by Kate Markopoulos.